Join the Conversation

On Target: Mississippi State QB Prescott growing as a passer

Michael Bonner, The Clarion-Ledger 1 a.m. CDT August 27, 2014

Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott calls a play at the goal line. Mississippi State and Rice played a college football game on December 31, 2013 in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. (Photo by Keith Warren)(Photo: Keith Warren)

STARKVILLE – A year ago, Dak Prescott began fall camp missing intended targets in every way possible. Balls bounced at the feet of the receivers and sailed over their heads. Mississippi State's backup quarterback threw behind them or too far in front.

The rust that built up from missing portions of the summer and all of the spring showed. Prescott's only throws in the spring came from a chair due to an injured leg.

"I'm a whole different player now," Prescott said. "I'm a lot smarter throughout the game."

Mississippi State's backup quarterback started seven games following a concussion Tyler Russell suffered in the season-opener. As a sophomore, Prescott completed 58.4 percent of his passes. It's just below his career average of 58.8 percent, which is a school record.

It's more a statement on the history of Mississippi State quarterbacks rather than Prescott's accuracy. He finished 11th in the conference in passing.

"Dak was an average passer when he showed up here. Now he is a pretty good passer, but he wants to be a great passer," MSU coach Dan Mullen said. "When you have that drive and work ethic, it allows you to do that and accomplish more."

Prescott threw for 1,940 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Four of those picks came against South Carolina. To improve those numbers Prescott's worked on his footwork in the pocket and asked the training staff to plan a workout to help. He worked on his accuracy through offseason workouts with receivers.

He's also more experienced, no small fact in all of this.

"The game will be a lot slower than it was last year," Prescott said. "I have those starts under my belt and knowing what to expect. Just going out there and playing the full game."

Prescott still has room to grow as a redshirt junior. He's played in 23 career games but only seven were starts. Of those 23 games, he only played the entire game twice. In the other 21, he shared snaps with Russell or Damian Williams.

He's now the guy as the full-time starter. He'll receive all of the snaps in the most important games. But Prescott isn't satisfied with just increased playing time.

"I've come very far and it's crazy to think about that," Prescott said. "But I've never given up on myself. I've never had a doubt that I couldn't be in the situation I'm in or bigger things."